Fill-through-the-top package and method and apparatus for making the same

ABSTRACT

A fill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and second opposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extending along a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence, the first and second tracks may be joined to each other along an area of weakness. When making the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package is filled with a product via a fill opening between the second track and the second panel, and then the second track is attached to the second panel.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/373,312, filed Aug. 12,1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to packages to be filled with aproduct on a form, fill, and seal machine and, more particularly, to areclosable package filled through its top on a form, fill, and sealmachine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical reclosable package includes first and second opposing panelsjoined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging thepair of sides. A reclosable fastener extends along a package topdisposed opposite the bottom. The fastener generally includes first andsecond opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, whilethe second track includes a female profile adapted to releasablyinterlock with the male profile. The first and second tracks arethermally fused to, or integrally formed with, the respective first andsecond panels. To open and close the fastener, the package may beprovided with a slider mounted to the fastener.

If reclosable packages of the foregoing type are to be prepackaged witha product and then sold in a store, the packages are typically preparedon a horizontal or vertical form, fill, and seal machine. In the form,fill, and seal machine, the package is first formed into the shape of apouch having a fill opening at either the top or the bottom. If the fillopening is disposed at the bottom, then the top is sealed prior tofilling the package. Similarly, if the fill opening is disposed at thetop, then the bottom is sealed prior to filling the package. Next, thepackage filled with the product via the fill opening. Finally, the fillopening is sealed shut to fully enclose the product within the package.If the product delivered to the package includes food, then the fillopening is typically provided at the package bottom and a tamper-evidentfeature is provided along the top. The tamper-evident feature indicatesto a consumer whether or not the package has been tampered with prior topurchase.

Some reclosable packages include a gusset along the bottom which expandsin response to filling the package with a product. The gusset isadvantageous because it increases the volume of product that can becontained in the package and, when the gusset expands, it allows thepackage to stand up on a store shelf. The stand-up package obviates theuse of additional features such as headers with holes for hanging thepackage from a hook or post. The bottom gusset, however, makes it lesspractical to provide a fill opening at the bottom because most of theproduct resides in the gusset.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, afill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and secondopposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and abottom bridging the pair of sides. The bottom optionally includes agusset. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extendingalong a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includesfirst and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a maleprofile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted toreleasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence,the first and second tracks are joined to each other along an area ofweakness. The first and second tracks are optionally provided withrespective first and second fins joined to each other along theaforementioned area of weakness to effectively create a single fincomprised of the first and second fins. To open and close the fastener,the package is optionally provided with a slider mounted to thefastener.

The package is convertible between a pre-filled condition and apost-filled condition. In the pre-filled condition, the first track isconnected to the first panel, but the second track is only connected tothe second panel along the sides thereby creating a fill opening betweenthe second track and the second panel in a region between the sides.After the package is filled with a product via the fill opening, thepackage is converted to the post-filled condition. In the post-filledcondition, the second track is connected to the second panel to seal thefill opening.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofmaking a reclosable package includes the following sequence of steps:

(a) supplying a web of plastic material;

(b) supplying a reclosable fastener including first and second opposingtracks, the first track including a male profile, the second trackincluding a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the maleprofile, the first and second tracks being joined to each other along anarea of weakness;

(c) folding the web to provide first and second opposing panels;

(d) attaching the first track to the first panel;

(e) sealing the web such that the first and second panels are joined toeach other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair ofsides;

(f) filling the package with a product via a fill opening between thesecond track and the second panel; and

(g) attaching the second track to the second panel to seal the fillopening.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, anothermethod of making a reclosable package includes the following sequence ofsteps:

(a) supplying a web of plastic material in a longitudinal direction;

(b) supplying a reclosable fastener including first and second opposingtracks, the first track including a male profile, the second trackincluding a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the maleprofile;

(c) folding the web along one or more longitudinal folds to providefirst and second opposing panels, the longitudinal folds creating abottom of the package;

(d) attaching the first track to the first panel;

(e) sealing the web along a pair of sides, the bottom bridging the pairof sides;

(f) filling the package with a product via a fill opening between thesecond track and the second panel; and

(g) attaching the second track to the second panel to seal the fillopening.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus for performing the above methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a reclosable plastic bag in a pre-filledcondition embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the reclosable plastic bag in apost-filled condition;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5a and 5b are a diagrammatic representation of a method andapparatus for making and filling the reclosable plastic bag;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a method and apparatus forsealing the reclosable plastic bag;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7--7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 8--8 in FIG. 6;and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along line 9--9 in FIG. 6.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by wayof example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit theinvention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 3 depict a fill-through-the-topreclosable package 10, and FIGS. 2 and 4 depict a top portion of thepackage 10. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the package 10 includesfirst and second opposing body panels 12 and 14 joined to each otheralong a pair of sides 16 and a bottom 20 bridging the pair of sides 16.The bottom 20 optionally includes a gusset 22.

The package 10 is provided with a reclosable fastener 23 extending alonga package top disposed opposite the gusseted bottom 20. The fastener 23includes first and second opposing tracks 24 and 26. The first track 24includes a rib-type male profile 28 and a first fin 30 extendingdownward from the male profile 28, while the second track 26 includes agroove-type female profile 32 and a second fin 34 extending downwardfrom the female profile 32. The male and female profiles 28 and 32 areadapted to interlock with each other. The first track 24 includes aplurality of narrow first sealant ribs 36 on an outer surface of thefirst fin 30 to facilitate connecting the first fin 30 to the firstpanel 12. and the second track 26 includes a plurality of narrow secondsealant ribs 38 on an outer surface of the second fin 34 to facilitateconnecting the second fin 34 to the second panel 14. To provide tamperevidence, lowermost ends of the first and second fins 30 and 34 arejoined to each other along a line of weakness 40 to effectively create asingle fin comprised of the first and second fins 30 and 34. The line ofweakness 40 may be a scored line, a perforated line, a thinned die line,or a tear strip. In an alternative embodiment, the first and secondtracks 24 and 26 do not include the respective depending fins 30 and 34,and tamper evidence is provided by joining the lowermost ends of theprofiles 28 and 34 instead of the lowermost ends of the fins.

To open and close the fastener 23, the package 10 is optionally providedwith a slider 42 mounted to the fastener 23. The slider 42 disengagesthe profiles 28 and 32 in response to movement along the fastener 23 inan opening direction and engages the profiles 28 and 32 in response tomovement along the fastener 23 in a closing direction. To accommodatethe slider 42 and make it difficult to open the fastener 23 withoutusing the slider 42, the fastener 23 is preferably free of pull flangesextending upwardly from the male and female profiles 28 and 32. To stopmovement of the slider 42 near the sides 16 of the package 10 andthereby prevent the slider 42 from sliding off the end of the fastener23, a pair of end terminations 44 and 46 are mounted to the fastener 23near the respective sides 16 of the package 10. The end termination 44stops movement of the slider 42 in the opening direction, while the endtermination 46 stops movement of the slider 42 in the closing direction.The end terminations 44 and 46 may be a separate element attached to thefastener 23, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, or may be integrally formed withthe fastener 23. Examples of end terminations are disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,088,971 to Herrington, U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,121 to Herrington etal., U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,286 to Herrington et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,405,478 to Richardson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,837 to Morgan, U.S.Pat. No. 5,448,807 to Herrington, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,375 to Richardsonet al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,173 to Dobreski et al., which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The package 10 is convertible between a pre-filled condition and apost-filled condition. In the pre-filled condition shown in FIGS. 1 and2, the first fin 30 is connected to the first panel 12, but the secondfin 34 is not connected to the second panel 14, except along the sides16, thereby creating a fill opening between the second fin 34 and thesecond panel 14. After the package 10 is filled with a product via thefill opening, the package 10 is converted to the post-filled conditionshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the post-filled condition, the second fin 34is connected to the second panel 14 to seal the fill opening. If thebottom 20 includes the gusset 22, the gusset 22 expands in response tofilling the package 10 with the product. The gusset 22 is advantageousbecause it increases the volume of product that can be contained in thepackage 10 and, when the gusset 22 expands, it allows the package 10 tostand up on a store shelf 48. The stand-up package 10 obviates the useof additional features such as headers with holes for hanging thepackage from a hook or post.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method and apparatus for making and filling the reclosablepackage 10. The method and apparatus are illustrated in FIGS. 5a-b, 6,7, 8, and 9. Referring first to FIGS. 5a and 5b, a core 50 supplies aweb 52 of plastic material. A folder 53 folds the web 52 to providefirst and second opposing panels 12 and 14 joined along a bottom 20having one or more fold lines. The folder 53 optionally includes agusset point 54 that creates a gusset 22. The folded web 52 is conveyedbetween a pair of rollers 56 that bring the first and second panels 12and 14 is close proximity to each other. A spool 58 supplies areclosable fastener 23 having the structure discussed above. Thefastener 23 is fed between the upper portions of the first and secondpanels 12 and 14.

A sealer 60 seals the first fin 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to the firstpanel 12 in the machine direction, i.e., the direction of movement ofthe web 52. The sealer 60 may be a stationary convective (hot air)sealer that does not contact the web 52, a reciprocating heated barsealer that intermittently contacts the web 52, or a band sealercomprising a heated band that moves with the web 52 until the seal ismade. The first sealant ribs 36 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) on the outer surfaceof the first fin 30 facilitate this attachment between the first fin 30and the first panel 12. At this time, the second fin 34 remainsdisconnected from the second panel 14. Another reciprocating heated barsealer 62 seals the first and second panels 12 and 14 to each other inthe transverse direction. The side seals 16 are generated by the sealer62 at bag width distances apart to create individual packages 10. If thebottom 20 includes a gusset 22, a heated bar sealer 64 creates a pair ofangle seals 66 along the gusset 22 on opposite sides of each side seal16. The first and second panels 12 and 14 are attached to each other atthe angle seals 66.

If the packages 10 are provided with respective sliders 42, the sliders42 are mounted to the fastener 23 at bag width distances apart eitherbefore the fastener 23 is attached to the web 52 or after the fastener23 is attached to the web 52. FIG. 5b depicts the sliders 42 as beinginstalled after the fastener 23 is attached to the web 52 and after theformation of the side seals 16. To stop movement of the slider 42 nearthe sides 16 of each package 10, a pair of end terminations 44 and 46are mounted to the fastener 23 on opposite sides of each side seal 16.

The sliders 42 may be installed using various techniques. For example,the slider 42 may have hinged wings that fold and snap permanently inplace to attach the slider 42 to the fastener 23. Further detailsconcerning such a hinged slider may be obtained from U.S. Pat. Nos.5,010,627, 5,063,644, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,583 to Herrington, whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In analternative embodiment, the slider 42 may have a pair of side walls thatare temporarily flexed away from each other as the slider 42 is mountedon the fastener 23 and then returned to their original position afterthe slider 42 is mounted. In another alternative embodiment, prior tothe formation of the side seals, the fastener 23 is cut apart at alocation where a side seal is to be generated, the ends formed by thecutter are moved laterally relative to each other to expose the ends,and the slider 42 is threaded onto one of the exposed ends. Furtherdetails concerning this technique of inserting a slider through a splitfastener may be obtained from U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,760 to Donovan, whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In yet anotheralternative embodiment, prior to the formation of the side seals, thefastener 23 is notched at a location where a side seal is to begenerated and the slider 42 is threaded onto the fastener 23 via thenotch. The notch is sized to accommodate the slider 42. Further detailsconcerning this technique of inserting a slider onto a notched fastenermay be obtained from U.S. application Ser. No. 09/307,937 to Provan etal. entitled "Zipper and Zipper Arrangements and Methods ofManufacturing the Same", filed May 10, 1999, and incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

After forming the side seals 16 and installing such optional componentsas a slider 42 and end terminations 44 and 46, a cutter 68 separates thepackages 10 from each other at the side seals 16. Each package 10 isthen placed beneath a fill tube 70 having a spout that is inserted intoa fill opening between the second fin 34 and the second panel 14 (seeFIGS. 1 and 2). The fill tube 70 conveys a predetermined amount ofproduct to the interior of the package 10. The gusset 22 expands inresponse to filling the package 10 with the product.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method and apparatus for sealing the filledpackages 10 so that they are ready for shipment to and display at astore. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced, profiled guides 72, apair of moving members 74, a reciprocating heated bar sealer 76, and astationary backing plate 82. The profiled guides 72 are shaped incross-section to support each package by either the fastener 23, theslider 42, and/or the end terminations 44 and 46. As best shown in FIG.7, the illustrated guides 72 include respective first steps 78 forengaging the respective lower shoulders of the slider 42 and respectivesecond steps 80 for engaging the lower sides of the end terminations 44and 46. The opposing inner vertical faces of the guides 72 below thesecond steps 80 are spaced sufficiently apart to allow the fins 30 and34 to fit therebetween, but sufficiently close to minimize the amount ofair in the package head space above the product in the filled package.Each filled package 10 may be manually placed between the guides 72 orautomatically fed into the guides 72 by conventional conveyingequipment. The guides 72 are preferably made of a low-friction, rigidmaterial such as hard anodized aluminum or ultra high densitypolyethylene.

The moving members 74 are disposed on opposite sides of the package 10beneath the respective guides 72. The moving members 74 continuously orintermittently convey the packages 10 supported by the guides 72 to thesealer 76. Each moving member 74 is preferably a Teflon-coatedglass-cloth belt encompassing a pair of spaced pulleys. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 8, the reciprocating heated bar sealer 76 is disposed withinone of the conveyor belts, while the backing plate 82 is disposed withinthe other of the conveyor belts. When a package 10 is disposed betweenthe sealer 76 and the backing plate 82, the sealer 76 presses thepackage 10 against the backing plate 82 (with the belts disposedtherebetween) to attach the second fin 34 to the second panel 14 in theregion between the sides 16, thereby sealing the fill opening of thefilled package 10 (see FIG. 8). The backing plate 82 is optionallycooled with chilled water or cool air as such pressure is applied by thesealer 76. Additional cooling bars are optionally located within themoving members 74 downstream from the sealer 76 and the backing plate82. Instead of the heated bar sealer 76, the apparatus for sealing thefilled packages may include a heated band of metal, such as steel,lining the inner surface of the belt of each moving member 74 and movingwith the belt. The heated bands inside the respective belts seal thesecond fin 34 to the second panel 14 as the belts convey the associatedpackage 10 through the guides 72. Once the fill opening is sealed, thepackage 10 is ready for shipment to and display at a store. The fullysealed package 10 is shown in FIG. 9.

The package 10 may be composed of various plastic polymers, copolymers,coextrusions and/or laminations. The panels 12 and 14 are preferablycomprised of monolayer or multi-layer combinations of: polyethylene(high, medium, low, linear low, and/or low density polymers includingmetallocene); polypropylene (oriented and/or axially oriented); ethylenevinyl acetate; nylon (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); olyethyleneterephthalate (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); polyvinyl chloride;ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH); polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC); polyvinylalcohol (PVOH); polystyrene; foil and/or metalization; and paper. Theslider 42 and end terminations 44 and 46 are preferably comprised ofmono-material, blends, alloys, and/or co-polymers of: polyethylene(high, medium, low, linear low, and/or ultra low density polymers);polypropylene (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); ethylene vinylacetate; nylon (oriented and/or biaxially oriented); thermoplasticpolyesters; polycarbonate; acrylics; and/or polystyrene. The profiles 12and 14 and the fins 30 and 34 are preferably comprised of mono-layer,blends, alloys, coextrusions, laminations and/or coatings of:polyethylene (high, medium, low, linear low, and/or ultra low densitypolymers including metallocene); polypropylene (oriented and/orbiaxially oriented); ethylene vinyl acetate; nylon (oriented and/orbiaxially oriented); polyethylene terephthalate (oriented and/orbiaxially oriented); polyvinyl chloride; ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH);polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC); polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH); polystyrene;foil and/or metalization; and paper. The sealant ribs 36 and 38 arepreferably comprised of mono-material, blends, and/or coextrusions of:polyethylene (low, linear low, and/or ultra low density polymersincluding metallocene); ethylene vinyl acetate, adhesive or low meltingtemperature sealant.

While the present invention has been described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognizethat many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments andobvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spiritand scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of making a reclosable package,comprising:supplying a web of plastic material; supplying a reclosablefastener including first and second opposing tracks, the first trackincluding a male profile, the second track including a female profileadapted to releasably interlock with the male profile, the first andsecond tracks being joined to each other along an area of weakness;folding the web to provide first and second opposing panels; attachingthe first track to the first panel; sealing the web such that the firstand second panels are joined to each other along a pair of sides and abottom bridging the pair of sides; filling the package with a productvia a fill opening between the second track and the second panel; andattaching the second track to the second panel to seal the fill opening.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bottom includes a gusset thatexpands in response to filling the package with the product.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the area of weakness is selected from thegroup consisting of a scored line, a perforated line, a thinned dieline, and a tear strip.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step ofattaching the first track to the first panel occurs after the step offolding the web and prior to the step of sealing the web.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein the step of folding the web provides a fold linealong the bottom, and wherein the step of sealing the web provides sealsalong the sides.
 6. The method of claim 1, further including the step ofseparating the package from a remainder of the web.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first track includes a plurality of first sealantribs on an outer surface of the first track to facilitate the step ofattaching the first track to the first panel, and wherein the secondtrack includes a plurality of second sealant ribs on an outer surface ofthe second track to facilitate the step of attaching the second track tothe second panel.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step ofsupplying a reclosable fastener includes providing the first and secondtracks with respective first and second fins extending downward from therespective male and female profiles, the first and second fins beingjoined to each other along the area of weakness to effectively create asingle fin comprised of the first and second fins.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, further including the steps of supplying a slider for openingand closing the fastener in response to movement therealong and mountingthe slider to the fastener.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thefastener is free of pull flanges extending upwardly from the male andfemale profiles.
 11. The method of claim 9, further including the stepsof supplying a pair of end terminations for stopping movement of theslider near the respective sides of the package and mounting the endterminations to the fastener near the respective sides of the package.12. A method of making a reclosable package, comprising:supplying a webof plastic material in a longitudinal direction; supplying a reclosablefastener including first and second opposing tracks, the first trackincluding a male profile, the second track including a female profileadapted to releasably interlock with the male profile; folding the webalong one or more longitudinal folds to provide first and secondopposing panels, the longitudinal folds creating a bottom of thepackage; attaching the first track to the first panel; sealing the webalong a pair of sides, the bottom bridging the pair of sides; fillingthe package with a product via a fill opening between the second trackand the second panel; and attaching the second track to the second panelto seal the fill opening.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bottomincludes a gusset that expands in response to filling the package withthe product.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of attachingthe first track to the first panel occurs after the step of folding theweb and prior to the step of sealing the web.
 15. The method of claim12, further including the step of separating the package from aremainder of the web.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the firsttrack includes a plurality of first sealant ribs on an outer surface ofthe first track to facilitate the step of attaching the first track tothe first panel, and wherein the second track includes a plurality ofsecond sealant ribs on an outer surface of the second track tofacilitate the step of attaching the second track to the second panel.17. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of supplying a reclosablefastener includes providing the first and second tracks with respectivefirst and second fins extending downward from the respective male andfemale profiles, the first and second fins being joined to each otheralong an area of weakness to effectively create a single fin comprisedof the first and second fins.
 18. The method of claim 12, furtherincluding the steps of supplying a slider for opening and closing thefastener in response to movement therealong and mounting the slider tothe fastener.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the fastener is freeof pull flanges extending upwardly from the male and female profiles.20. The method of claim 18, further including the steps of supplying apair of end terminations for stopping movement of the slider near therespective sides of the package and mounting the end terminations to thefastener near the respective sides of the package.
 21. An apparatus formaking a reclosable package from a web of plastic material and areclosable fastener, the reclosable fastener including first and secondopposing tracks, the first track including a male profile, the secondtrack including a female profile adapted to interlock with the maleprofile, the first and second tracks being joined to each other along anarea of weakness, the apparatus comprising:means for folding the web toprovide first and second opposing panels; means for attaching the firsttrack to the first panel; means for sealing the web such that the firstand second panels are joined to each other along a pair of sides and abottom bridging the pair of sides; means for filling the package with aproduct via a fill opening between the second track and the secondpanel; and means for attaching the second track to the second panel toseal the fill opening.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the meansfor attaching the first track to the first panel is downstream relativeto the means for folding the web and upstream relative to the means forsealing the web.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means forfolding the web provides a fold line along the bottom, and wherein themeans for sealing the web provides seals along the sides.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 21, further including means for separating thepackage from a remainder of the web.
 25. The apparatus of claim 21,further including means for mounting a slider to the fastener, theslider being adapted to open and close the fastener in response tomovement therealong.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further includingmeans for mounting a pair of end terminations to the fastener near therespective sides of the package, the end terminations being adapted tostop movement of the slider near the respective sides of the package.27. An apparatus for making a reclosable package from a web of plasticmaterial and a reclosable fastener, the reclosable fastener includingfirst and second opposing tracks, the first track including a maleprofile, the second track including a female profile adapted tointerlock with the male profile, the apparatus comprising:means forfolding the web along one or more folds to provide first and secondopposing panels, the folds creating a bottom of the package; means forattaching the first track to the first panel; means for sealing the webalong a pair of sides, the bottom bridging the pair of sides; means forfilling the package with a product via a fill opening between the secondtrack and the second panel; and means for attaching the second track tothe second panel to seal the fill opening.
 28. The apparatus of claim27, wherein the means for attaching the first track to the first panelis downstream relative to the means for folding the web and upstreamrelative to the means for sealing the web.
 29. The apparatus of claim27, further including means for separating the package from a remainderof the web.
 30. The apparatus of claim 27, further including means formounting a slider to the fastener, the slider being adapted to open andclose the fastener in response to movement therealong.
 31. The apparatusof claim 30, further including means for mounting a pair of endterminations to the fastener near the respective sides of the package,the end terminations being adapted to stop movement of the slider nearthe respective sides of the package.